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June 28, 2019 by General Volunteer

NLG Chicago Bar Bash

Post-bar bar night: TLC from the NLG

When: Monday, August 5th from 5:30-8:00

Where: Lagunitas Brewing company

Wander out on the brewery catwalks to watch the magic of beer production. Catch up with your friends in the NLG community. Most importantly, DRINK BEER from the Lagunitas taproom, because all proceeds benefit NLG Chi. Free vegan food!

If you are taking the bar exam in July 2019, there will be one free drink with your admission, AND a free super hero cape. If you aren’t taking the bar exam this summer, support the NLG by buying drinks – for the superheroes in capes and yourself too.

This event is only $10 for admission, but wait! YOU CAN GET IN FREE! We are offering FREE ADMISSION to anyone who signs up to be a monthly donor on our website. Simply sign up to donate at any amount on nlgchicago.org/foundation, and check the box for “Recurring donation.” You will automatically be issued a free ticket to this event for becoming a monthly donor at any level. Simple as that! AND if you sign up to be a monthly donor, you also get a free drink (but no superhero cape), even if you aren’t taking the bar in 2019.

Buy tickets today at  www.tinyurl.com/NLGBarBash, or go to the Facebook event for more info.  The venue is wheelchair accessible.  For any other accessibility questions or concerns, please email chicago@nlg.org.  

 

Filed Under: Events

June 10, 2019 by General Volunteer

Movement Lawyering CLE: The Criminalization of Homelessness

 

NLG lawyer Molly Armour introduces panelists Ali Simmons and Diane O’Connell, along with moderator Nickolas Caplan.
A wonderful turnout for our CLE on the criminalization of homelessness.

Ali Simmons discusses the movement to save the Uptown Tent City, which was largely spearheaded by residents.
Ali Simmons discusses the importance of listening to homeless individuals already doing work for their own communities.

 

Although advocating for people experiencing homelessness is an underappreciated area of criminal defense, the support present at the Mass Defense Committee’s April 24th CLE, “The Criminalization of Homelessness,” demonstrates that those without homes in Chicago are not without people dedicated to fighting for their basic human rights.  Diane O’Connell, a community lawyer at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) who provides a variety of legal services to people experiencing homelessness, presented along with Ali Simmons, a CCH street outreach worker and community organizer. Nickolas Kaplan, an NLG attorney who was active in providing legal support in the struggle to save the Tent City in Uptown, moderated the event.

The discussion largely focused on the Uptown Tent City, an encampment on the Lake Shore Drive viaduct which experienced consistent government harassment over a period of several years.  Some of the major moments of the campaign reviewed by panelists included a large scale eviction of the encampment in September 2017, as well as subsequent direct actions protesting the evictions.   Simmons strongly reinforced that such encampments function not only as shelter, but refuges of community and support for the people who live there. As a result, when the city displaces an encampment, people lose their community.  For many, encampments are the only viable option for survival due to the lack of availability — and accessibility — of many housing options in the city of Chicago. Accessibility of housing for those with disabilities is one of the many lenses through which Simmons highlighted the intersectional nature of homelessness.  He further discussed how those without homes can be more vulnerable both to sexual violence and incarceration after their encampments are displaced.

O’Connell then went on to discuss various legal strategies aimed at supporting the rights of homeless people.  A prominent legal avenue for this aid is the Illinois Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act, which provides some protection to homeless people and their property.  She emphasized that while a person experiencing homelessness has the right under law to equal treatment without discrimination, in reality the mere fact of homelessness often provides basis for discrimination. Other initiatives of CCH which were discussed included the Bring Chicago Home campaign, a small real estate tax increase which would be used to fund housing increases for communities experiencing homelessness.

Both Simmons and O’Connell underscored the two main points which lawyers should glean from the discussion:  first and foremost comes actively listening to the people who are already in the struggle for their own rights; secondly, when working with the homeless community, it is of utmost importance to follow through on any and all commitments given.  Being present and forming active partnerships between lawyers and people experiencing homelessness provides a framework for reshaping the outlook on the needs of homeless communities, with an emphasis on intersectionality and the concept of refuge.   

Filed Under: Blog

May 1, 2019 by General Volunteer

Movement Lawyering CLE: Restorative Justice and Abolition

On March 28th, the Mass Defense Committee hosted a CLE on restorative justice and abolition, to an overflowing room of more than 50 participants. Emmanuel Andre of Circles and Ciphers was in discussion with Page May of Assata’s Daughters, and Sharlyn Grace of the Chicago Community Bond Fund moderated.

Starting out with defining restorative justice and abolition, Andre said restorative justice requires “switching the lens,” because it should not be program-based but how we approach the world, with a focus on addressing harm and what’s needed for people to be whole again. May named that “abolition is a project of Black liberation specifically.” She said that to abolish the prison industrial complex (PIC) it is necessary to abolish anti-blackness; to critique the PIC one must critique capitalism and settler-colonialism.

The speakers touched on much of they day-to-day work of building an abolitionist world, including tasks that are less glamorous and visible. May said “abolition is not tomorrow” and both speakers advised the audience of action steps they can take now as part of an abolitionist vision. May emphasized the importance of creating counter-narratives on prisons and police, with actions such as disrupting racism at CAPS meetings or putting signs up saying “We DON’T call police.” Andre’s closing advice included, “Build relationships, not institutions. Don’t leave your imagination behind.”

Filed Under: Blog

May 1, 2019 by General Volunteer

NLG Chi Newsletter 2019 1Q

NLG Chi Newsletter 2019 1Q

Filed Under: Blog

March 25, 2019 by General Volunteer

National Lawyers Guild & Latino Union May Day Party!

Several people standing holding a sign that says "Latino Union of Chicago"

Photo: Artists for Action Chicago

Celebrate May Day in the city where it began — at our annual gathering where workers, organizers and friends unite and party!

A photo of two people wearing legal observer hats

 

 

Join two local organizations working toward justice and dignity for our annual celebration of International Workers’ Day. Latino Union of Chicago is joining with our local chapter of the National Lawyers’ Guild to bring you a May Day event of unprecedented proportions: food! music! drinks! dancing! Abolish the Gang Database! Law for the People! The venue is ADA wheelchair accessible, and child care will be provided.

Entertainment provided by Jarochicanos, food provided by Chicago Street Vendors’ Union, priceless memories provided by you and your favorite agitators. There will also be a raffle! All proceeds divided between Latino Union of Chicago and NLG – Chicago.

 Purchase tickets here.

Filed Under: Blog

March 11, 2019 by General Volunteer

Haywood Burns Fellow in Chicago

This summer, Chicago Community Bond Fund will be hosting one of National Lawyers Guild’s Haywood Burns Fellowship recipients.  The Fellowships sponsor law students and legal workers to spend the summer working for public interest organizations across the country in order to build their legal skills , strengthen their long-term commitment to social justice, and provide much-needed legal support to under-served communities.

Christine Farolan is a 1L at Northeastern University School of Law and a proud daughter of Filipino immigrants. After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in Social Policy, she completed an AmeriCorps year of service for the Legal Assistance Foundation. At LAF, she organized volunteer opportunities for attorneys and law students and assisted in management of a pro bono legal services clinic in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. In law school, she is a co-chair of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. She is also a member of the Criminal Law Project, with whom she has been researching campus police authority and misconduct. Christine hopes to use her career to further criminal legal reform and is eager to work with the Chicago Community Bond Fund as a Haywood Burns fellow.

Chicago Community Bond Fund is excited to have Christine working as a 2019 summer intern. Christine will be supporting CCBF’s revolving fund by helping conduct intakes and also supporting their systems change work through doing research, writing, and other policy advocacy.

NLG Chi congratulates Christine Farolan.  We are thrilled to have you working in our community this summer.

Filed Under: Blog

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